Menstrual Cups!

You may have seen the question Katy asked on our Facebook group a few weeks ago:

"I have been approached by a student who would prefer to remain anonymous to ask whether anyone has any experience using a Mooncup™ or similar while training pole or aerials, whether anyone would be happy to share experiences or advice? Basically - is it any good, do you/have you had to take any extra measures to avoid leakage or is it great?"

The post received a huge amount of interest, so I thought I'd summarise some general things that were discussed about Menstrual Cups.
The responses were all incredibly positive, the only 'issues' were about finding the right one for you. I for one had no idea there were so many different types!

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So here are 5 things I learned about Menstrual Cup variety:
  • Capacity - Depending on your period, there are a variety of cups to suit all different flow rates. Something I've read a few times now is that when we use tampons/pads, we can misunderstand our flow rate. A super absorbent tampon can hold 9-12ml of blood, whereas a large menstrual cup can hold up to 30ml*!
  • Firmness - Depending on your activity level and pelvic floor the firmness of the material makes a difference to the fit. The general rule seems to be if you're finding that the cup is leaking, it's too soft.
  • Size - While researching, I did a quiz and was asked "How high does your cervix sit?" I wouldn't know where to even begin with answering that question... but this website was mega helpful in finding your cervix height. 
  • Rubber type - There's a whole thing on medical grade silicone, as in, they can say they're medically safe but they may have only been tested outside of the body, rather than inside. If you know you have an allergy to certain types of rubber, make sure you investigate it further! Generally, when reading about medical grading, it's suggested that you invest and spend more to ensure a better quality of material.
  • Stems - 'Flat/Tab', 'Ring/Ladder', 'Stick', 'Stick with a ball' and 'no stem' are some of the different stem types. Stems help you retrieve your cup and it's completely dependent on you and your body as to which type you prefer. Some of the stems like the 'Ring/Ladder" or 'Stick with a ball' can help get better grip on the cup if your hands are slipping! Some people opt to trim their stems their cup is completely personalised to fit their body.
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Other factors you should consider when choosing a cup:

  • If you've had a baby - (naturally or via C-section) 
  • If you use any internal birth control - If you use something such as the coil, a cup may interfere with this so be sure to research this or talk to your doctor prior to use 
  • If you have a tilted uterus - A 'normal' uterus should fall forwards, towards your stomach and bladder. A tilted uterus will fall backwards, towards your spine. A tilted uterus is quite common, around 20 in 100 women having one*.  
  • If you have any bladder weakness 
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Added bonuses! 

  • One reusable item - There's the obvious added benefit of not having to carry around tampons / pads wherever you go and almost all cups come with a handy little drawstring bag or pot to keep them in. 
  • You save money
  • Better for the environment - No more waste

 Who knew there were so many different elements that make up a menstrual cup! No wonder it's tricky finding the one that works perfectly for you. It seems it's a little bit of trial and error but just take a look at what some people have said about using a cup...
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Personal Experience

"Takes a bit of getting used to so I'd recommend using it at home and with a liner until you've mastered the art of menstrual cup origami!"

Lily Cup

"I use a Lily Cup and honestly cannot recommend it enough! Every chance I get I rave about it - changed the game for me! As long as you fit it correctly (which takes a bit of trial and error in the beginning) it's really secure and I've never had a "leak" issue with pole or anything else... 

 ...I don't even wear anything additional. Seriously, if you're thinking about trying, all I can say is GO FOR IT, might change the faff that periods are forever! I even donated all my pads and tampons - NEVER AGAIN!

... much less chance of TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome) as well, none of those nasty chemicals either (from tampons) so I honestly think it's better for you all round as well!"

Lunette

Oona Kivelä has partnered with Lunette and you can see their blog post interview with her here:

Michelle Shimmy has also written a blog post on this brand:

Mooncup

"They're great, love mine. I have a Mooncup, it's the bigger size one because I've had 2 kids, the smaller ones and the more flimsy feeling ones were no good for me."

"Never had a leak with a Mooncup. Not once. They take a couple of days to get used to, and I would suggest trying different brands for different shapes, but yeah. They're legit."

"I got lucky and the first one I tried (Mooncup) was perfect. I tend to use a thin pad as well, just for piece of mind. Never had any issues while doing pole. It took a few days to get the hand of using it, but it's so worth it! Been using one for over 8 years now, can't recommend one enough."
"Personally after experimenting with sizes I now don't use anything extra, but it never hurts to be certain you're secure so I used to use a pair of period pants like 'diary dolls' sold in boots... On top of the convenience it also saves you money. I've had the same cup for 5 years now. My original was a Mooncup but since then I've bought a cheaper version (£6!). Something to note is, you do have to be pretty comfortable with your bod. If for example you use applicator tampons because non-applicators are a bit weird for you, menstrual cups might be a bit tricky!"

These are obviously just 3 of the many, MANY brands of menstrual cups out there. There are also loooooads of blogs and websites with helpful information on should you wish to start your journey with a menstrual cup! 

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Extra Resources:

Thanks Capper for this ace website! https://putacupinit.com/ If you need some help finding out which cup is right for you, take their quiz!

 https://www.uniqueaerialists.com/can-you-wear-a-menstrual-cup-whilst-doing-aerial/

https://menstrualcupreviews.net/how-to-choose-a-menstrual-cup/#Physical_Activities